Saturday, October 27, 2012

GB Catholic Diocese warns voters their soul is "in jeopardy" on Election Day

Friday, October 26, 2012 3:56 p.m. CDT

Bishop David Ricken of the Green Bay Catholic Diocese

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The Green Bay Catholic Diocese is reminding
parishioners this weekend that their soul is "in jeopardy" for
this upcoming election.
People attending Catholic churches in the Green Bay Diocese this
weekend will find a message in their newsletters from Bishop David
Ricken warning them how they vote on November 6th could put their "soul
in jeopardy."
In the message, Ricken asks parishioners to keep Catholic principles
in mind when they vote, specifically referring to 5 issues the Church
finds "intrinsically evil" such as abortion, embryonic stem cell
research and gay marriage.
Bishop Ricken adds that the Church is against "aggressive moves" by
the Obama administration which required even religious organizations to
provide birth control coverage to employees, if the primary mission of
the business was not to advance the organization's religious beliefs.
This exempted churches and religious primary schools but not hospitals
or universities. The bishop suggests this could force Catholic hospitals
to only accept Catholic patients.
The diocese would not comment Friday.The Bishop will apparently speak to the media on Saturday.
Below is the full letter:
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
AN IMPORTANT MOMENT
It is almost time to vote and to make our choices for president and other political offices both local and national.
You have often heard it said that this is a turning point in our country's history and I could not agree more.
The Church is not a political organism, but as you hopefully have
learned in the US Bishops Faithful Citizenship material (which we have
made widely available to you in the parishes, in the Compass and
on-line), the Church has the responsibility to speak out regarding moral
issues, especially on those issues that impact the "common good" and
the "dignity of the human person."
I would like to review some of the principles to keep in mind as you
approach the voting booth to complete your ballot. The first is the set
of non-negotiables. These are areas that are "intrinsically evil" and
cannot be supported by anyone who is a believer in God or the common
good or the dignity of the human person.
They are:
1. abortion2. euthanasia3. embryonic stem cell research4. human cloning5. homosexual "marriage"
These are intrinsically evil. "A well-formed Christian conscience
does not permit one to vote for a political program that contradicts
fundamental contents of faith and morals." Intrinsically evil actions
are those which have an evil object. In other words, an act is evil by
its very nature and to choose an action of this type puts one in grave
moral danger.
But what does this have to do with the election? Some candidates and
one party have even chosen some of these as their party's or their
personal political platform. To vote for someone in favor of these
positions means that you could be morally "complicit" with these choices
which are intrinsically evil. This could put your own soul in jeopardy.
The other position to keep in mind is the protection of religious
liberty. The recent aggressive moves by the government to impose the HHS
mandate, especially the move to redefine religion so that religion is
confined more and more to the four walls of the Church, is a dangerous
precedent.
This will certainly hurt the many health care services to the poor
given by our Catholic hospitals. Our Catholic hospitals in the Diocese
give millions of dollars per year in donated services to the poor. In
the new plan, only Catholic people can be treated by Catholic
institutions.
It has never been our mission to be exclusive of those who are not of
our faith. This mandate also places Catholic business owners in a very
precarious position in that they, too, will have to pay for those
medical "services" which violate Catholic teaching. This has never been
the American way and now these moves and others by the present
government, will significantly alter and marginalize the role of
religious institutions in our society.
These positions are indicators of a broader societal disposition to
remove God from the public square and from any relation to society
whatever. It is precisely religion and the free exercise thereof which
has made this country great in the past.
Many people in our Diocese are presently without work. Our Catholic
Charities is serving more and more people who are unemployed or under
employed and can barely keep up with the demands. Work is so critical to
the family and to the sense of human dignity. An economy which does the
most for the common good is an economy that works and provides people
gainful employment for the country's citizens. A government that works
pays its bills and models for citizens what it means to be responsible
and contributive.
Let us pray for the electorate and let's take action, that we may
vote for good and moral leaders for this great country which will only
remain great, if she continues to be and to do the good.
Sincerely yours in Christ,The Most Reverend David L. Ricken, DD, JCLBishop of Green Bay

Thursday, October 25, 2012

"Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division."

I grew up as one of six siblings, and often my brothers and sister and I would ask our parents, "Why can't we be like that family? They have this, they have that. Why can't we be like them?" And my parents would always answer, "Because we're different."

I remember once there was a yo-yo fad at our Catholic school. I was sure that all the other boys and girls had yo-yos. And my brothers and sister and I did not. We kept after our mother constantly, begging her to get us yo-yos so we could be just like the other boys and girls. Well, by the time our mother finally got to the store and bought us yo-yos, the fad was over.

Now, I am sure there was a practical side to my parents' well-worn resistance to fads. They would have financially ruined themselves running out to the store to keep us supplied with whatever was the latest accoutrement that the advertising world had convinced society was the latest and greatest toy or clothing. I remember the platform shoe craze also. I thank the Lord that I did not have any desire to wear platform shoes!

I learned that fads come and go. And even though it was difficult to hear it and to live it, I got used to the idea that me and my family were "different". And that came in very handy when it came to living the Catholic Faith.

As in my world as a young person, there are unfortunately also fads in the Church that come and go. And there are some realities, like the Eucharist, that will remain until the end of the world. I thank the Lord that He blessed me with two of the very best parents a boy could ask for in this world who both resisted the fads and taught me to live and love the things that last.

Fads like certain styles of music, or certain options for celebrating the Mass, come and go and these unfortunately can cause divisions in parish life. Divisions are very painful and call for the healing that only God can bring. Good "Fathers" help us to celebrate, believe in and gather in unity around the things that last, including the Eucharist, the presence of Jesus Christ around Whom we gather and who brings us into the unity of divine Love as we worship Him together.

"Brothers and sisters:
I kneel before the Father,
from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory
to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self,
and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith..."

Thursday, October 18, 2012

WASHINGTON,
D.C.—His Excellency, the Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D.,
Archbishop for the Military Services, has issued a pastoral letter on
the Year of Faith,declared by Pope Benedict XVI from October 11, 2012 to November 24, 2013.

Here follows the text of the letter:

Introduction

Pursuing
peace is a vital role that those pledged to service support through
their daily commitment to a rigorous discipline. It is an elusive gift
sought with eager longing. All people of good will seek peace, pray for
peace, and hope for peace in the midst of challenging and undesirable
situations. You, the men and women of our military, have been intimately
engaged in moving toward such peace with over a decade of
deployments. You and your families know better than most that the
effects of war have taken their toll. Over time, through the experiences
of being deployed and supporting those who have deployed, the desire
for personal peace travels the long journey through physical,
psychological, and spiritual healing. As faithful Catholics we know that
the source of all healing and peace is found in the person of Jesus
Christ. Our ongoing conversion, an ever-deepening relationship with the
Lord, also demands a daily commitment to a discipline of prayer that is
profoundly rooted in humility.

Through
prayer in Christ we come to know the Father’s will for our life. We
better understand the trappings of power along with the things or
choices that hold us back from being our true selves. We can, through
prayer, come to realize that our will is not necessarily the will of the
Creator. Faith-filled lives rooted in the Eucharist and daily prayer
help us to discern more closely how we are being called each day to the
mission as a disciple of Jesus Christ. With Blessed Ildefonso Schuster,
“we consider prayer as the beginning of our future state of
blessedness.” This year the Catholic Church offers each of us an
opportunity to focus on the mission that matters most – living out our
call as baptized Catholics by knowing and loving the faith, which
empowers us to serve those in need and leads to life without end.

The Year of Faith

During
the Year of Faith (October 11, 2012 – November 24, 2013) the Holy
Father, Pope Benedict XVI, has encouraged all Catholics to rediscover
the faith:

Reflection
on the faith will have to be intensified, so as to help all believers
in Christ to acquire a more conscious and vigorous adherence to the
Gospel, especially at a time of profound change such as humanity is
currently experiencing.(BENEDICT XVI, Porta Fidei, n. 8.)

Throughout
this year of reflection there are also special anniversaries in the
life of the Church to recall. First of all, this year marks the fiftieth
anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council (11 October
1962) that Blessed Pope John XXIII called. The Holy Father wanted “to
transmit doctrine, pure and whole, without attenuations or
misrepresentations,” in such a way that “this sure and immutable
teaching, which must be respected faithfully, is elaborated and
presented in a way which corresponds to the needs of our time.” (JOHN
XXIII, Address of the solemn opening of the Ecumenical Vatican Council
II, 11 October 1962.) Secondly, the faithful recall the twentieth
anniversary of the promulgation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, given to the Church by Blessed Pope John Paul II (11 October 1992). TheCatechism,
a fruit of the Second Vatican Council, includes “the new and the old
(cfr. Mt 13:52), because the faith is always the same yet the source of
ever new light.” (JOHN PAUL II, Apostolic Constitution, Fidei depositum, 11 October 1992, n. 2.)

To
all of you whose pastoral care is assured by the Archdiocese for the
Military Services, USA I issue a warm word of encouragement to study
these documents. Each, in a particular way, recognizes the primary call
to discipleship lived in the world today. Each also recognizes the
unique vocation of service in the military as agents of security and
freedom on behalf of the people of our nation in the pursuit of
peace. For those of you who now experience the ministry of this
archdiocese in Veterans’ Administration Medical Centers, your pursuit of
peace is through healing or acceptance, as well as your contribution to
the communities in which you live. In this way, each of us commits
valuable time to that which is most important and that which has the
power to transform all of our interactions – a personal encounter with
Jesus Christ.

As
a 12 year old I visited Europe for the first time with my family. I was
assured that I would not be able to appreciate the vastness of the
Basilica of St. Peter in Rome, because the elaborate red damask draped
seats were not taken down between the sessions of the Council. The tiers
of seats made an impression. In a few years I would begin to read the
documents that were debated in those glamorous bleachers. They may have
disguised the vastness of the basilica, but they demonstrated a
community of faith at work. Our life is not always ideal.

Yet
the less than desirable situations of conflict that you endure have not
dampened your ongoing commitment to defend the nation in its noble
cause. This cause may at times make you feel lonely and
misunderstood. Often a certain experience of being set apart occurs upon
returning home only to find people who do not fully comprehend, or even
bother to contemplate, the sacrifices that you and your family members
have endured. In those unsettling experiences you must rely on the
relationships of the community of faith found in the Catholic Church. In
those occasions of loneliness or feelings of abandonment you are never
really all alone.

As
your Shepherd, I want to encourage you in your vocation, help you to
see how the Church values your service, and challenge you to deepen your
relationship and devotion to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Your
unique circumstances do not dispense you from profiting from the Year of
Faith. Every day men and women of the armed forces, along with U.S.
government employees serving outside of the borders of the United
States, are dedicated to pursuing peace around the world. Veterans are a
constant reminder of the price paid for that pursuit. In this
non-territorial archdiocese over which the sun never sets, prayers are
being offered at every moment of the day. We gather together in prayer
and through the celebration of the Eucharist in a way that we never can
physically gather. In these profound moments of prayer we recognize that
we are together in Christ Jesus, and we celebrate His powerful
presence. It is from this unique vantage point that the Church
encourages each one of us in our service.

Vatican II

We
remember that in two specific places the documents of the Second
Vatican Council recognize the importance of the pastoral needs of those
who serve in the military. The first is found in the Pastoral
Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, Gaudium et Spes. Part
II of this constitution focuses on “Some Problems of Special Urgency”
of which the council fathers desired to consider “in the light of the
gospel and of human experience.” (CONC. ECUM. VAT. II, Dogmatic
Constitution, Gaudium Et Spes, n. 46.) These included marriage
and the family; human culture; life in its economic; social, and
political dimensions; the bonds between the family of nations; and
peace.

In
the Chapter titled, “The Fostering of Peace and the Promotion of a
Community of Nations,” a great deal of energy is expended to explain the
nature of peace, the avoidance of war, the just defense of people, the
arms race, the need for international organizations, and cooperation as
contrasted to the horror and perversity of war including scientific
weapons that can create massive and indiscriminate destruction. In
recognition of the proper role of the military Gaudium et Spesnotes,
“As long as they (military personnel) fulfill this role properly, they
are making a genuine contribution to the establishment of peace.” (CONC.ECUM. VAT. II, Dogmatic Constitution, Gaudium Et Spes, n. 80.)

Your
presence and your efforts in the military are contributing toward the
desire of peace. Your deep respect for the dignity of the human person
means that you endeavor to save rather than to take lives. Often, the
daily task lists, meetings, reports, and trainings can be wearisome. The
repetition can cause one to forget that each of these tasks in pursuit
of the mission of peace is both important and valued.

The
second notation concerning the armed forces is found in the Decree on
the Bishops’ Pastoral Office in the Church, Chapter three, Section
three. Here it is written that, “Because of the special conditions of
the way of life of military personnel, their spiritual care requires
extraordinary consideration.” (CONC. ECUM. VAT. II, Decree, Bishops’
Pastoral Office in the Church, Christus Dominus n. 43.) In this decree
the uniqueness of military service is recognized from the previous
experience of Military Ordinaries (bishops tasked with the pastoral care
of those in the military). As such, the desire to establish a military
vicariate in every nation was expressed. The need for dioceses to send a
sufficient number of priests qualified to serve this serious work was
also clearly articulated. Finally, the need to promote the spiritual
welfare of those serving in the military was included.

Spirituali Militum Curae

This
particular emphasis on the pastoral and spiritual needs of those in the
military mobilized the Church to consider more appropriate ways in
which to meet those needs. Therefore, Blessed John Paul II promulgated
the Apostolic Constitution Spirituali Militum Curaein
1986. This document, also a fruit of Vatican II, notes, “the Church has
always desired to provide with praiseworthy concern, and in a manner
suited to the various needs, for the spiritual care of military people.”
(JOHN PAUL II, Spirituali Militum Curae, 21 April 1986,
introduction.)

The Catechism of the Catholic Church

The Catechism of the Catholic Church articulates
the teaching of the Church especially in her desire to avoid war and
specifically the intentional destruction of human life. All citizens and
all governments are obliged to avoid war. (CCC 2308.)The Catechism further states,

Those
who are sworn to serve their country in the armed forces are servants
of the security and freedom of nations. If they carry out their duty
honorably, they truly contribute to the common good of the nation and
the maintenance of peace. (CCC 2310.)

Those
who serve the common good are necessarily rooted in Christ Jesus. For
this reason I want to draw your attention to the way that you respond to
the gift of peace.

Lord I Am Not Worthy – A Reflection for Soldiers

At
every celebration of the Eucharist there is an opportunity to identify
with a soldier who comes before the Lord asking for help. In the new
translation of the third edition of the Roman Missal, the words
we pray have changed. In particular, the words we pray prior to
receiving Holy Communion can provide a beautiful theological reflection
that puts our true mission into focus. After the Lamb of God, the priest
elevates the consecrated host. Recognizing the presence of Christ the
priest says:

Behold the Lamb of God,

behold Him who takes away the sins of the world.

Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.

Together the priest and people say,

Lord, I am not worthy

that you should enter under my roof,

but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.

(Roman Missal, Third Edition for use in the United States of America, The Communion Rite,

This
beautiful prayer comes from the Sacred Scriptures. It is found in the
Gospel of Matthew. (Mt 8:5-11.) In this pericope we find that as Jesus
enters Capernaum a centurion approaches Him. A centurion is a soldier
who commands 100 troops. Like a good commanding officer he is concerned
with the welfare of all of his soldiers. In this particular instance, a
subordinate (a servant or one he commands) is paralyzed and suffering
dreadfully.

With
great humility and recognizing the power of the Lord, the centurion
seeks Jesus and tells Him that his servant is suffering. Jesus says, “I
will come and cure him.” Immediately, though the centurion utters the
words we are now familiar with prior to receiving communion:

Lord,
I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and
my servant will be healed. For I too am a man subject to authority, with
soldiers subject to me. And I say to one ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to
another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he
does it. (Mt 8:8-9.)

When Jesus hears this He is amazed and says out loud to those following Him,

Amen,
I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. I say to
you, many will come from the east and the west, and will recline with
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the Kingdom of Heaven. (Mt
8:5-11.)

As
the centurion seeks the healing of his servant, it could actually be
his son that he is speaking of since the Greek word “pais” could either
mean “servant” or “boy.” When Jesus says He will come and heal his
servant the centurion shows not only politeness, but also recognition of
the law with a profound sense of humility. The centurion states that he
commands others, but he realizes and articulates that Jesus has more
authority and has greater command than he as a soldier will ever
have. The centurion recognizes himself as a servant leader who is
subject to the authority of Almighty God.

The
centurion also realizes that Jewish law would discourage Jesus from
entering his house since he is a Gentile. Jews at the time observing the
law knew that such an act would ritually defile them. In order to
prevent that the soldier humbly provides Jesus with a “way out” by
saying “only say the word and my servant will be healed.” This
humbleness amazes Jesus who recognizes the centurion not as a great
commander but as a man of great faith. In the Gospel of Matthew much of
the text is written to a community that shows a lack of faith. Examples
of faithful citizens were needed in order that others might grow in
faith.

Remember
the centurion is speaking in the presence of others. He is a known
figure. He is not afraid to make manifest his faith and is not worried
about his position. His clear, public statement of personal belief
attracted the attention of the Lord Jesus, but also of those around
him. His soldiers must have marveled and wondered, “Who is this in whom
my commanding officer has so much confidence?”

Finally,
the centurion believes in and relies on grace in the presence of
Jesus. By admitting that he is not worthy he announces to Jesus and all
around him that what he really wants is what God wants. He recognizes
that, although he does have power and authority it is not the sort that
can direct all things. In other words, through his prayer he has come to
seek God’s will, not his own will. He presents the need and then openly
accepts wherever it is that God leads him.

We
know that the primitive Church was filled with soldier saints, many of
whom were martyred for their fidelity to the faith. Others, as they
marched with the Roman troops, brought the faith to the cities and towns
they visited. They helped advance the “good news” about Jesus Christ
throughout the Roman Empire.

In
today’s military there is a definite need for pleading so that our
souls may be healed. The experiences of war can include encounters of
the loss of life and the challenges of accepting the unknown in an
unsecure setting. As overwhelming as these experiences are God the
Father seeks peace for us too. While those who serve daily defend peace
they may do so humbly by recognizing Jesus and responding to Him in the
same way the centurion did.

Each
celebration of the Sacrifice of the Mass provides an opportunity for us
to reflect on that reality prayerfully prior to receiving the real
presence of Jesus Christ in the Body and Blood of Christ, the
Eucharist. This moment of recognition, acceptance, and response provides
an interior thanksgiving that informs our daily lives, the way we
serve, and the way we treat one another. Next time you are at Mass
remember that your vocation in service of our nation is something that
the Church understands. Remember that healing comes to us in the person
of Jesus Christ. Remember also that our lived faith is not just a
personal experience. Just as the centurion risked sharing what he
believed in front of others, so we also must go and do the same.

Indeed
we are charged at the end of every celebration of the Eucharist to go
forth and announce the Gospel we have heard. It is so important to
invite others to experience this healing presence of the Lord and His
word, which saves. Yours may be the only witness that another
experiences! You may be the only “evangelist” (bearer of the Gospel)
that he or she meets!

Through
the celebrations of the Sacraments of Penance and Eucharist we begin to
come to terms with the real healing that our souls need. We cannot do
that on our own. In our sinfulness we must cry out to God to plead for
help. We must recognize that we alone cannot solve all the challenges
that affect us. We must rely on the presence of Christ who enters our
very being to help us recognize in ourselves, and in others, God
responding to us. The response to this prayerful relationship helps one
grow as a disciple who understands that his or her main mission in life
is the pursuit of peace while always pointing toward the Heavenly
Banquet.

We
find our inspiration in the example of our Mother, the Most Blessed
Virgin Mary. She teaches us, in the words of St. Luke, to keep all these
things which we have been considering regarding our faith in our hearts
(Lk 2:51b)and
to bear Christ to others. She began immediately after the Annunciation
when she went in haste to visit her cousin Elizabeth. (Cf. Lk 1:39ff.)
Our faith is indeed a great gift, which we must deepen, but also share,
because we know that it brings serenity and joy. The Council teaches us
that Mary was the first Christian, because she bore the Christ in her
womb. We also bear Christ as our identification. His is the Name
impressed on the dog tags of our soul. We bring Him to others in our
faithful witness, our joyful proclamation, our enduring hope, and our
practice of charity.

Conclusion

When Jesus died on the Cross a centurion present said, “Truly, this is the Son of God.” (Mk 15:39b.) Throughout
this Year of Faith the faithful of the Archdiocese for the Military
Services, USA are called to know their faith more deeply through the
study of Catholicism. All are called to pray fervently and be open to
making their prayer lives a daily priority. Each one of us is called to
serve one another thereby helping Christ to be made known in the world.
Each of us is charged to echo the profession of faith of the centurion
in everything we say or do. These soul-healing actions bring about the
peace of the Kingdom of Heaven.

You
might make as one goal this year the memorization of the Nicene Creed,
which we recite together at every Sunday Mass. Would it not also be
useful to study the Catechism of the Catholic Church or Youcat? This
will be a good opportunity to usher the whole Church into a time of
particular reflections and rediscovery of the faith. (Cf.Porta Fidei, n. 4.)

Be
assured of my daily prayers for you as your Shepherd especially during
this wonderful opportunity to celebrate the Year of Faith and make our
way to the fullness of life in the Kingdom of God.

Monday, October 15, 2012

This month, the Catholic Church will
celebrate a special new year, not with fireworks or
noisemakers, but with prayer, study and a firm intention to
renew and deepen our faith so as to be better prepared to
share it with others.

The goal of both the Year of Faith and
the Synod for the New Evangelization is to reawaken
the faith in Catholics, so we can be better witnesses to
the love of Christ and his Church in our homes, workplaces and
communities. With hearts transformed by Christ and his Gospel,
we can change our own lives, and change the
world.

In light of these events, and as we
prepare for our own archdiocesan
synod in 2014 to mark the Archdiocese of Washington’s 75th
anniversary, it seems appropriate to reflect on the Church as
the continuing presence of Jesus Christ in the world and the
role of clergy, religious and laity in carrying out his
ministry. Recently, I wrote a pastoral
letter, The Church, Our Spiritual Home, which is
an attempt to do just that.

As this period of renewal and
revitalization begins, it is important for us to remember what
exactly the Church is, what it means to the world, and what
our role in it is. The Church is the family of God.
Its members, those baptized into the Church, you and I,
form a body with Christ as its head. In order to truly
know Christ, we must know him in his Body, the
Church.

As we continue to carry out the New
Evangelization and prepare to hold our own archdiocesan
synod, we must be very clear about what the frame of reference
is. The Church is the home of God’s word. It is
the presence of Christ, sacramentally. We can only move
forward if we fully understand who we are as members of the
Church.

Our increasingly secular and
materialistic culture has many misconceptions about the Church
that Jesus founded. The Church is not a man-made organization,
it is not a club of like-minded people, it is not politically
partisan, nor is it a special interest group. Rather, the
Catholic Church is the enduring, visible yet spiritual,
structured yet Spirit-led, human yet divine presence of Christ
in the world today.

Since the Church is the presence of
Christ in our world, we who are members of the Church are
called to be Jesus’ witnesses in our daily lives, in all that
we say and do. The great commission that Jesus gave his
disciples before he ascended into heaven is the Lord’s call to
us today, to be his witnesses, to shine the light and love of
his Gospel to the ends of the earth.

Baptized as members of God’s family,
his Church, we have an incredible gift that guides us in this
life and leads us to eternal life with our Father in heaven.
In this world, we are called to manifest God’s kingdom. This
is not just the work of our Holy Father, our bishops, our
priests, our deacons and our religious. Our laity
have a special call to renew the “temporal order”. The lay
faithful are commissioned to take the Gospel and apply it to
every aspect of life through the defense of human life,
marriage and family; care of the sick and those in need, and
the development of a more just distribution of the goods of
the earth and care for all of creation. This is what we mean
by the transformation
of the temporal order.

In our Archdiocese of Washington, I
invite all Catholics to participate in the upcoming parish and
regional listening sessions in preparation for the
archdiocesan synod, so people can share their ideas about what
we are doing well and how we can improve in the key areas of
worship, education, community, service and administration/
stewardship. We
can help build up a better Church for the future and play a
part in helping our family of faith be the best Church that
Christ calls us to be.

In a previous letter, I mentioned that
future e-letters during the Year of Faith would include
suggested resources for learning more about the Church so as
to deepen your own faith. Two of the best reference
materials to begin with are the Holy Scriptures – I recommend
the New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE)
- and the Catechism
of the Catholic Church.

Regular reading and study of God’s
Word, even if only for several minutes a day, is a sure way to
grow closer to Christ. Studying the Catechism
then builds on that firm foundation, enabling one to grow in
knowledge of the Catholic faith – what we believe and
why. The United
States Catholic Catechism for Adults is another
helpful resource in this area.

Also, I invite all Catholics of the
Archdiocese of Washington to participate in the new Living
Catholic formation program. This adult education
program developed by the archdiocese, includes opening and
closing sessions at parishes, with four weeks of online
learning based on the Four Pillars of the Catechism of the
Catholic Church.Living Catholic is a
great way to grow in knowledge and love of the faith, and
then, with confidence, share it with others. That is what the
New Evangelization is all about.

Finally, in order to gain a better
understanding of the importance of charitable works and
community engagement in the practice of our faith, I encourage
you to read Catholic
Impact 2012. This compilation of information
about the many ways the Church serves our particular community
– through education, health care and charitable and social
services – may surprise you.

In this special month and year for the
Catholic Church, I urge you to take the opportunity to learn
more about what it means to be Catholic, and how our faith is
a great gift from God that we are called to share with
others.

The events happening in Rome this
month, as the Synod
for the New Evangelization and the Year of Faith begin,
might seem far away, but in our own community, we too must be
engaged in this great call from Jesus, to be his witnesses and
to walk with him as his disciples in today’s world, sharing
his love and hope in our daily lives. As a family of faith, as
members of the Catholic Church founded by Jesus that endures
as a living sign of his love and presence, let us celebrate
this special new year together!

Thursday, October 11, 2012

The great American evangelist, The Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, commented, “The first word of Jesus in the Gospel was ‘come’; the last word of Jesus was ‘go’.”

The New Evangelization reminds us that the very agents of evangelization must first be evangelized themselves. We must first come to Jesus ourselves before we can go out to others in His Holy Name.

Saint Bernard said, “if you want to be a channel, you must first be a reservoir.”

Thus I believe that the primary sacrament of the New Evangelization is the sacrament of penance, and thank Pope Benedict for reminding us of this.

Yes, to be sure, the sacraments of initiation – - Baptism, Confirmation, the Eucharist – - charge, challenge, and equip the agents of evangelization.

But, the sacrament of reconciliation evangelizes the evangelizers, as it brings us sacramentally into contact with Jesus, who calls us to conversion of heart, and inspires us to answer His invitation to repentance. As we learned in philosophy, nemo dat qoud non habet (“no one gives what he does not have”).

The Second Vatican Council called for a renewal of the sacrament of penance, but what we got instead, sadly, in many places, was the disappearance of the sacrament.

So we have busied ourselves calling for the
reform of structures, systems, institutions, and people other than
ourselves. Yes, this is good.

But the answer to the question “What’s
wrong with the world?” is not, in the first place, politics, the
economy, secularism, pollution, global warming, or other people . . .
no. As Chesterton, the eloquent British apologist, wrote, “The answer
to the question ‘What’s wrong with the world?’ is two words: I am.”

I am! Admitting that leads to conversion of heart and repentance, the core of the Gospel-invitation.

That happens in the Sacrament of Penance. This is the sacrament of the New Evangelization.

In the document “Forming
Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” published by the bishops of the
United States, we are reminded that, “In the Catholic Tradition, responsible
citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral
obligation. This obligation is rooted in our baptismal commitment to follow
Jesus Christ and to bear Christian witness in all we do.” And so, as I leave for
Rome, I want to share with you some of the concerns that I will bring with me to
the tombs of the apostles, SS. Peter and Paul, and to Assisi, the town of St.
Francis.

I am concerned about a culture that has become increasingly
callous about the radical abortion license, and a legal system that affords more
protection to endangered species of plants and animals than to unborn babies;
that considers pregnancy a disease; that interprets “comprehensive health care”
in such a way that it may be used to threaten the life of the baby in the womb
(and, it should be noted, to exclude the undocumented immigrant as well). I am
concerned as well for the infirm and elderly who are nearing the end of life,
that they will not be treated with the respect, dignity and compassion that is
their due, but instead be encouraged to seek a hasty death before they can
become, according to some, “a burden to society.”

I am worried that we
may be reducing religious freedom to a kind of privacy right to recreational
activities, reducing the practice of religion to a Sabbath hobby, instead of a
force that should guide our public actions, as Michelle Obama recently noted,
Monday through Friday.

I am bothered by the prospect of this generation
leaving a mountain of unpayable debt to its children and grandchildren, whose
economic futures will be blighted by the amounts of the federal budget absorbed
by debt service.

I am anxious that calls for a fiscally responsible
society are met with claims that those calls come from men and women who don’t
care about the poor; that we may be tempted to write off the underprivileged as
problems to be solved, or as budget woes, rather than treating them with respect
and dignity as people with potential and creativity; that we’re at times more
willing to cut programs to help the sick, our elders, the hungry and homeless,
than expenditures on Drone missiles.

I am bothered that we are losing sight of voting
as an exercise in moral judgment, in which certain priority issues—especially
the life issues, with the protection of unborn life being the premier civil
rights issue of the day—must weigh heavily on our consciences as we make our
political decisions.

I am worried by attempts to redefine marriage, and
to label as “bigots” those who uphold the traditional, God-given definition of
marriage.

I am anxious that we cannot seem to have a rational debate over
immigration policy, and that we cannot find a way to combine America’s splendid
tradition of hospitality to the stranger with respect for the rule of law,
always treating the immigrant as a child of God, and never purposefully dividing
a family.

I am worried about the persecution of people of faith around
the world, especially with the hatred of Christians on a perilous incline; and
the preference for violent attacks upon innocents instead of dialogue as the
path to world peace.

I expect that many of you share these concerns. In
the words of “Faithful Citizenship,” how we should respond is clear. The
document says, “Our focus is not on party affiliation, ideology, economics, or
even competence and capacity to perform duties, as important as such issues are.
Rather, we focus on what protects or threatens human life and dignity.” As you
consider these concerns, I will be praying for you in Rome that the humble,
joyful Poverello of Assisi intercede for us, and that Mary Immaculate, patroness
of the United States and Star of the New Evangelization, will inspire in us
wisdom, prudence, and courage.

Vatican City, 5 October 2012 (VIS) - According to a
decree made public today and signed by Cardinal Manuel Monteiro de
Castro and Bishop Krzysztof Nykiel, respectively penitentiary major and
regent of the Apostolic Penitentiary, Benedict XVI will grant faithful
Plenary Indulgence for the occasion of the Year of Faith. The indulgence
will be valid from the opening of the Year on 11 October 2012 until its
end on 24 November 2013.

"The day of the fiftieth anniversary of the solemn
opening of Vatican Council II", the text reads, "the Supreme Pontiff
Benedict XVI has decreed the beginning of a Year especially dedicated to
the profession of the true faith and its correct interpretation,
through the reading of - or better still the pious meditation upon - the
Acts of the Council and the articles of the Catechism of the Catholic
Church".

"Since the primary objective is to develop sanctity of
life to the highest degree possible on this earth, and thus to attain
the most sublime level of pureness of soul, immense benefit may be
derived from the great gift of Indulgences which, by virtue of the power
conferred upon her by Christ, the Church offers to everyone who,
following the due norms, undertakes the special prescripts to obtain
them".

"During the Year of Faith, which will last from 11
October 2012 to 24 November 2013, Plenary Indulgence for the temporal
punishment of sins, imparted by the mercy of God and applicable also to
the souls of deceased faithful, may be obtained by all faithful who,
truly penitent, take Sacramental Confession and the Eucharist and pray
in accordance with the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff.

"(A) Each time they attend at least three sermons during
the Holy Missions, or at least three lessons on the Acts of the Council
or the articles of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, in church or
any other suitable location.

"(B) Each time they visit, in the course of a pilgrimage,
a papal basilica, a Christian catacomb, a cathedral church or a holy
site designated by the local ordinary for the Year of Faith (for
example, minor basilicas and shrines dedicated to the Blessed Virgin
Mary, the Holy Apostles or patron saints), and there participate in a
sacred celebration, or at least remain for a congruous period of time in
prayer and pious meditation, concluding with the recitation of the Our
Father, the Profession of Faith in any legitimate form, and invocations
to the Blessed Virgin Mary and, depending on the circumstances, to the
Holy Apostles and patron saints.

"(C) Each time that, on the days designated by the local
ordinary for the Year of Faith, ... in any sacred place, they
participate in a solemn celebration of the Eucharist or the Liturgy of
the Hours, adding thereto the Profession of Faith in any legitimate
form.

"(D) On any day they chose, during the Year of Faith, if
they make a pious visit to the baptistery, or other place in which they
received the Sacrament of Baptism, and there renew their baptismal
promises in any legitimate form.

"Diocesan or eparchal bishops, and those who enjoy the
same status in law, on the most appropriate day during that period or on
the occasion of the main celebrations, ... may impart the papal
blessing with the Plenary Indulgence".

The document concludes by recalling how faithful who, due
to illness or other legitimate cause, are unable to leave their place
of adobe, may still obtain Plenary Indulgence "if, united in spirit and
thought with other faithful, and especially at the times when the words
of the Supreme Pontiff and diocesan bishops are transmitted by
television or radio, they recite ... the Our Father, the Profession of
Faith in any legitimate form, and other prayers that concord with the
objectives of the Year of Faith, offering up the suffering and
discomfort of their lives".